Sandeep Bhambra appointed to lead Citroën and DS design

Sandeep Bhambra, a former key figure at Renault, will become the head of design for Citroën and DS Automobiles at Stellantis, starting on November 2, 2026. This move is part of a broader reorganization of design leadership across Stellantis' European brands.

Reorganization aims to strengthen brand identities

Stellantis is reorganizing its design leadership in Europe to reinforce the unique identities of its brands, including Citroën and DS. The changes are intended to ensure each brand has a clear and distinct visual identity that appeals to customers.

Bhambra's background and previous roles

Sandeep Bhambra has a background in both engineering and design, with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Pune and a Master’s in Transportation Design from Strate School in France. He has worked at Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Technologies, and Tata Motors, as well as at Peugeot and Renault.

Contributions to key automotive projects

During his time at Peugeot, Bhambra contributed to the second generation of the Peugeot 2008 and 5008, and the Peugeot Onyx concept car. At Renault, he led projects such as the Scénic Vision and R17 Ora Ito concept cars, and was recognized with awards for his work on the Renault R5 Turbo 3E and Twingo 4.

Broader changes in Stellantis design leadership

Alongside Bhambra's appointment, Pierre Leclercq is named head of design for Opel and Vauxhall, replacing Mark Adams, who will retire after nearly 25 years. Thierry Metroz is also moving to a new role, supporting the European design strategy under Gilles Vidal.

Strategic goals for European design

Stellantis emphasizes that these changes align with its FaSTLane 2030 strategic plan, which aims to develop products that are innovative, emotionally engaging, and tailored to customer expectations. The goal is to enhance the desirability and distinctiveness of each brand.